Lionel Messi was saved from a devastating early exit from the World Cup on Tuesday night as Argentina took a thrilling 2-1 victory over Nigeria in Saint Petersburg.
Messi looked to have put the South American side on course for a victory that would, because Iceland simultaneously lost to Croatia, be enough to a spot in the round of 16.
However, his 14th-minute goal was cancelled out when Victor Moses pulled Nigeria level from the penalty spot after 51 minutes. As time wound down, it looked as if Messi would exit in the World Cup’s group stage for the first time in his career.
But Marcus Rojo struck in the 86th minute with a fine volley that saw Argentina leapfrog Nigeria into second place in Group D.
After securing just one point from its first two matches, Argentina needed to win to stand a chance of going through, and Messi’s early goal made him the first player in history to score at a World Cup as a teenager, in his twenties, and now in his thirties.
After losing in the final in 2014 and now a veteran at 31, one of the best players in soccer history still has a chance to win the sport’s ultimate prize.
Argentina’s win means it will now face France in the second round, in Kazan on Saturday.